The SPEARS (SRL) Southwest Tour Returns to Tucson Speedway for a Wild West Shootout

Bakersfield, CA – The 2023 JM Environmental “Wild West Shootout – Heatseeker 127” could not have a more perfect backdrop than Tucson Speedway (AZ). The 3/8-mile asphalt oval is located a mere 75 miles Northwest of the most famous shootout in American Old West history, which occurred at the O.K. Corall in Tombstone, AZ. The Earp brothers and Doc Holliday threw down with Tom and Frank McLaury, Billy Clanton, and Billy Claiborne. The outcome made American history, as the “Cowboys” were sent packing. On Saturday, April 15^th, the teams of the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series will shoot to make their own history, as the series returns to the 3/8-mile asphalt oval for the first time since 2017, in their own “Wild West Shootout”.

SRL History: This will be only the third time the Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series has visited Tucson Speedway and the first time since 2017. “Hollywood” Dan Holtz grabbed a dominant win in 2016, when he led nearly every lap of the “Roasted Rattler 125” in front of a 17-car field. 2017 found the Tucson Super Late Models joining the teams of the SRL, under their own rules package. Sean Bray was the overall winner, after qualifying 16^th of the 17 cars on hand. Johnny VanDoorn came away with the win in the SRL portion of the event, and was credited with his only series victory, joining Holtz in that category.

SWT History: The NASCAR Southwest Tour Series visited Tucson 16 times, including the televised “Winter Heat” Series. The track would prove difficult for any team to dominate, as 16 winners were crowned in those 16 events. Those winners included NASCAR stars Kevin Harvick, Kurt Busch, Ron Hornaday Jr., and Rick Carelli. A collection of Super Late Model standouts were also on the list from throughout the country. Those winners included Garrett Evans, M.K. Kanke, Ron Eaton, Jim Inglebright, Steve Portenga, Bryan Germone, Jim Pettit II, Derrick Gilchrist, Tom Sweatman, Joe Benedetti, Eddie McKean, and Bob Lyon. Pettit was the last victor in 2004.

Shootout: The JM Environmental “Wild West Shootout” events for the SRL have become a tradition with the series since 2019. It is a series of three events within the season series that pays out additional money to the winner, as well as throughout the field. The mini-series is sponsored by John Moore and JM Environmental Inc. The winner will receive a unique trophy and each driver in the field will be outfitted with a cowboy hat, courtesy of Moore.

Big Money: For the third consecutive event, the Spears Southwest Tour will pay out a minimum of $10,000-to-win. $10,000 will go to this weekend’s victor thanks to the “Winner’s Bonus” from W.A.R. Shocks and sponsorship from JM Environmental. Positions five through 17 will receive an increase in purse payout if they are not on the “Spears Frequent Flyer Program”. Those who are on the program will be paid $1,000 to start.

Diverse Field: 22 Super Late Models are entered for this weekend’s shootout. That number represents drivers from eight different states. California leads the way with 10 teams. Other states included on the entry list are; Colorado (5), Arizona (2), Washington (1), Idaho (1), Oregon (1), Wyoming (1), and Nevada (1).

Championship Battle: Jacob Gomes enters Round #3 of the season as the championship leader. The defending champion has won the first two rounds and is the only driver entered to have competed in both previous SRL events at Tucson. John Moore is second in the standings followed by Jace Hansen, Darren Robertson, Dylan Zampa, Cale Kanke, Dan Holtz, Andy Allen, Nick Cooper, and Ethan Nascimento. Nascimento is the only driver currently not entered.

Rookie Battle: Three-time Colorado National Speedway Super Late Model champion Darren Robertson has a slim 11-point lead over 2022 Kulwicki Driver Development Program champion Dylan Zampa for the Rookie-of-the-Year title. Two-time Colorado National Speedway Super Late Model championship runner-up Nick Cooper is third. Ethan Nascimento and 2018 Madera Speedway Pro Late Model champion Austin Herzog round out the top-five.

First Timers: Seven drivers will make their first SRL start of the season, with four of them making their first career starts in the series. Dylan Lupton, Cody Dempster, and Jimmy Parker Jr. will start their first races of 2023, while Kasey Kleyn, Dylan Jones, Brett Yackey, and Michael Scott will make their series debut.

Break it Up: This weekend’s event will be 127 laps in honor of John Moore’s car number. It will be a four-tire race with a break on or around lap 77 for fuel and adjustments. There will be a Competition Yellow after 30 consecutive Green flag laps, but not within 15 laps of the finish.

Spears Modifieds: Fifteen Modifieds are entered for this weekend’s action. Jordan Smith, Brandon Bonnett, Paul French, Jake Smith, and Justin Grote will make their first series starts. Travis Thirkettle enters the event as the championship leader, after winning the first two events. Holly Clark sits second with Andrew Anderson, Jimmy Sloan, and Travis McCullough the top-five. Stephen Brucker, Kevin Vossen, William Guevara, Jim Mardis, and Weston Marthaler make up the second five. The Spears Modified Series will make their eighth appearance at Tucson Speedway but first since 2018. Chris Gerchman and Tayler Miinch are two-time winners. There are no previous winners entered this weekend.

Cowboy Up: Arguably the biggest cowboy in the pit area would love nothing “moore” than to make it 19 winners in 19 different Southwest Tour Events at Tucson. John Moore will make his 54^th career start in the series, but his first at Tucson. He loves the “Wild West” atmosphere that the surroundings provide and the throwback vibes that permeate the area.

“It will be my first time to Tucson to race or otherwise, and I’m looking forward to it”, Moore professed. “I love the western vibe, and as far as the racing goes, I know the surface is old and worn out. It will be an old-school short track race, and I’ve already ordered a new set of stickers. I also heard it’s a drivers track, which will put all of us to the test. I wish it was 300 laps. There is nothing I like better than a tire smokin’, gear jammin’, Hot Rod race.”

Runner-Up, Runner-Up: Jace Hansen sits third in the championship standings after the “Winter Showdown” at Kern County Raceway Park. He is coming off a runner-up finish in that event and will be looking for his second SRL victory this weekend at Tucson. Hansen has two “Chilly Willy 150” starts at the 3/8-mile and finished fourth the last time he was there. He knows the key to victory will be many-faceted and hopes he and the team have what it takes to get there.

“This race will be very strategic”, Hansen began, “The track is so rough, and to my knowledge, no one has run this tire combination there. I’m sure you will see several different strategies with tire management, and it will make for a great show. I was really hoping it was going to be 127 laps with no break. That break will also throw a wrench into things. I personally love this track and I’m very anxious to get out there and see how the weekend unfolds!”

Previous Winner: The only previous winner of a Southwest Tour Series event at Tucson, on this weekend’s roster, is “Hollywood” Dan Holtz. Holtz won the event in 2016 and added to his NASCAR Southwest Tour Series win at Mesa Marin Raceway (CA) in the “Star Nursery.com 200 in 2003. That same season, the two-time Mesa Marin Super Late Model track champion made his only NASCAR Southwest Tour Series start at Tucson, finishing fifth. The Pacific Palisades, CA driver is normally a fan of the half-mile tracks, but Tucson is the exception to the rule, for the 62-year-old chauffeur.

“I just so happen to love Tucson about as much as any track I’ve ever been to”, Holtz explained. “I’ve had a lot of success there over the years, and it’s always been very good to me. It’s very hard for me to imagine a better way for me to spend a Saturday night than racing a Super Late Model at Tucson. I can’t wait to get there, unload, and get back on that racetrack having the time of my life. We are all pretty fortunate to be able to do what we do, and I feel like I’ve already won just by the fact that I get to go there and compete.”

Tucson Champions: Four former Tucson Speedway Super Late Model track champions are entered this weekend, including each champion since 2017. Those include Brandon Farrington (2017, 2018, 2019), Kole Raz (2020), Brett Yackey (2021), and Dylan Jones (2022). Raz recently won the “South Sound 200” at South Sound Speedway (WA), while finishing second to Preston Peltier in the “Chilly Willy 150” a few months ago. His recent success has made him confident for this weekend, looking for his first Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series win.

“I’m very confident going into the weekend”, Raz acknowledged. “Our team has been putting in the work on the notebook and continuing to improve on our package. We had a great battle with Preston Peltier earlier this year for the “Chilly Willy 150” (win), and I ended up finishing one spot short. But we learned a lot from that race and those last 40 laps, and I think we are going to unload pretty well.”

Hometown Driver: The driver with the most track championships of the quartet is Brandon Farrington. The Tucson driver is very familiar with what it takes to win there, and he hopes his experience will bring him home a victory for the Garcia Racing Team.

“I love the track here in Tucson”, Farrington stated with enthusiasm. “It provides amazing racing with side-by-side action, and it does take some strategy to race there. The tires are the most important thing when it comes to Tucson. You gotta take care of them and be there at the end.”

Schedule: Practice for the Spears SRL Southwest Tour and the Spears Modified Series will take place on Friday. Saturday will see a practice session for the Super Late Models, Modifieds, as well as the Hobby Stocks. Qualifying for the Modifieds begins at 4:30 PM with Super Late Models to follow. An autograph session is scheduled for 6:00 PM with Opening Ceremonies at 6:45 PM. Feature Events for the Spears Modifieds, Hobby Stocks, and Spears SRL Southwest Tour Series will follow.

Broadcast: For fans unable to attend the “Wild West Shootout”, all the events will be Livestreamed at www.SpearsRacing.TV with a subscription. The events will also be shown on MAVTV at a time and date to be announced later.

Celebrating its twenty third season in 2023, the SPEARS Southwest Tour Series is a regional stock car series competing on paved ovals in the southwestern portion of the U.S. “The SPEARS Southwest Tour Series…Where the Champions Race”.

Super Late Model Entry: (22 Cars as of 4/12/2023)

1. 1KKasey Kleyn, Quincy, WA – Thaemert Farms, LLC, Farmer Bean & Seed, LLC*
2. 1Dylan Zampa, Napa, CA – Sierra Speed Technology, Apache Rental Group*
3. 4Dylan Lupton, Elk Grove, CA – Lupton Excavation
4. 05Nick Cooper, Severance, CO – Neighbors Trailer*
5. 08Jace Hansen, Greely, CO – NAPA Cheyenne, Buckeye Welding Supply
6. 11HAustin Herzog, Clovis, CA – Richard Herzog Construction, Superior Door*
7. 11RDarren Robertson, Arvada, CO – Buckeye Welding Supply, Rocky Mountain Motorsports
8. 13Sean Hingorani, Newport Coast, CA – Fidelity Capital, DTR*
9. 16Jacob Gomes, Manteca, CA – Sunnyvalley Smoked Meats, Dell’Osso Family Farms
10. 17Zach Telford, Middleton, ID – Gibson Performance Diesel, Project Filter
11. 22AAndy Allen, Garden Grove, CA – RJ Allen, Inc.
12. 23Dan Holtz, Pacific Palisades, CA – Beverly Hills Rejuvenation Center, Concrete Motorsports
13. 24DCody Dempster, Parker, CO – Liberty Puzzles, All Temperatures Controlled*
14. 24SScott Sanchez, Bakersfield, CA – Salted Metals, Gibson Crane
15. 25Brandon Farrington, Tucson, AZ – Wells Johnson, All Pro Coatings
16. 26Dylan Jones, Vail, AZ – Desert Valley Landscape, Site One Landscape Supply
17. 27MJohn Moore, Granite Bay, CA – JM Environmental Inc., Berco Redwood
18. 27RKole Raz, Lake Oswego, OR – The Master Wrench, Wells Johnson
19. 32Brett Yackey, Greeley, CO – Breeze Thru Car Wash, Star-Precision Manufacturing
20. 33Cale Kanke, Frazier Park, CA – Allie Bakes
21. 82Michael Scott, Hillside WY – Michael Scott Trucking, Scott Express
22. 92Jimmy Parker Jr., Las Vegas, NV – N.A.C Electric, Desert Promotions

*  SPEARS Southwest Tour Series Rookie